The Author Drew Original Portraits for Eager Early Purchasers

In the huge build up to publication, Jason offered a special promotion to any fan who made an advance purchase of Why Are You So Sad? through an independent bookseller: He drew an original portrait of the reader. The promotion was such a success that Jason is still working through a back log of requests. You can see the portraits in the slideshow below which will continue to update as he follows through on this project. And if you feel that you qualified please let us know via our contact form. We'll need some evidence of purchase and a photo, preferably in the style of a school picture or passport photo. It may take a while for him to get to it, but in time you too might receive this unique keepsake. And if you missed the boat, you can always try to track the author down at one of his many events. Depending on his fragile temperament he might be willing to draw something in your personal copy of the novel.

"Kelly"

For ordering her copy of Why Are You So Sad? at Pegasus Books in Oakland, California, "Kelly" receives this touching portrait along with a very friendly looking canine.

Corinna

One of the earliest champions of the novel, "Corinna" would have received a portrait just for being a fan, but she went ahead and pre-ordered the novel at McNally Jackson Books in Soho.

"Jen"

This portrait only fractionally captures the charm of young "Jen's" school photo smile, but Jason assures us he gave it his best shot. "Jen" received this drawing because she ordered the novel at Community Bookstore in Brooklyn's Park Slope neighborhood.

"Ryan"

Always suave and once curly, "Ryan" ordered Why Are You So Sad? at McNally Jackson Books in New York's Soho neighborhood.

"Justin"

"Justin" supports his friends and teammates. That's just who he is. He picked up the novel at Unnameable Books in Brooklyn's charming Prospect Heights neighborhood.

"Watson"

This is "Watson." His human friend got this portrait by ordering Why Are You So Sad? at Diesel, A Bookstore in Oakland, CA.

"Jonathan"

Because "Jonathan" knew people who knew the author, and "Jonathan" admired these people, and their tastes in the finer things, "Jonathan" went out on a limb and took a chance on an unknown author, and ordered the novel through Powell's.

A fine visual artist in his own right, "Greg" snagged one of the first copies to hit the tables at The Strand, in New York City.

"Florence"

"Florence" picked up her own copy of the novel because she didn't trust her loved ones to share with her. She made her purchase at Book Culture on New York's Upper West Side.

Ted

"Ted" ordered Why Are You So Sad? at Laurel Books in Oakland, California.

"Noa"

"Noa" went to her local bookstore, The Golden Notebook, and they were very glad to order a copy of Why Are You So Sad? for her.

"Tim"

Nobody looks this good anymore, but "Tim" did when he was in high school. He ordered the book at South Pasadena's The Battery Books.

"Paul"

"Paul" wanted to make sure there would be a copy ready for him at his nearby bookstore, BookCourt, in Brooklyn, New York, and they were happy to take his request.

"Jenny"

"Jenny" went to her favorite bookstore, Green Apple Books of San Francisco, California, and demanded they order Why Are You So Sad? well in advance of its release.

"Scott"

"Scott" had a favorite photo of his brother from his childhood, and he wanted a copy of the novel. He fulfilled two dreams at once by pre-ordering at McNally Jackson, in Manhattan.

"Bill"

"Bill" fell in love with the reader portrait concept, and wasted no time requesting his copy through Brooklyn, New York's, Community Bookstore.

"Nelson"

"Nelson" had The Avid Reader, in Davis, California, help him become one of the first in his area to buy Why Are You So Sad?.

"Eric"

Like most of us, "Eric" is a big fan of absurdist existential humor. He rushed over to Community Bookstore of Brooklyn, New York, to make his advance order.

"Yuri"

Always five pulses ahead of next week, "Yuri" made an advance order for the novel through Powell's Books, in Portland, where Jason just happens to be reading on February 21st.

"Bill"

A world class songwriter and all around lovely human, "Bill" is now the proud owner of this portrait, because his wife made an advance order through Dog Eared Books, one of San Francisco's great independent bookstores.

"Nick"

"Nick" first met the author on the soccer fields of Brooklyn, and was so impressed by Jason's selfless play he figured he would see if those same attributes might translate positively to storytelling. Wanting to also get a unique collector's item, "Nick" ordered his copy of the novel at Granada Books in Santa Barbara, California.

"Grant"

Pouncing on the opportunity to get a free portrait, and support a former colleague from The Grey Lady, "Grant" made his order at Astoria Bookshop, of Queens, NY.

"The Mossman-Svenningsens"

The super huggable Mossman-Svenningsen clan, great fans of the arts, earned this special family portrait because they pre-ordered the book through Wordsworth Books & Company of Little Rock, Arkansas.

"Emily"

Despite insider access that surely would have allowed her a free copy of the book, "Emily" pre-ordered at BookCourt, because she didn't want to miss out on a free portrait.

"Steve"

Reader "Steve" used to have braces as a kid. He also had, and still has, great hair, but there was so much of it it didn't fit in this portrait, which he received by making an advance order through Powell's Books, in Portland, Oregon.

"Jessica"

One of the author's earliest intellectual role models, "Jessica" ordered her copy at Blue Bunny Books of Dedham, MA. In this portrait she is seen just getting over the chicken pox.

"James & Abby"

Sometimes birthday wishes take a while. "James" and "Abby" won this dual portrait for placing advance orders through Powerhouse on 8th in Brooklyn's fashionable Park Slope.